Before the ‘I Do’
I met Caroline through one of the first weddings I had worked on back in 2017. She was the sister to the groom and was a bridesmaid, creating the perfect opportunity for me to get to know her better. I remember her as being very outgoing and having quite the contagious laugh. So, when she approached me to film her wedding, I knew it would be a fun time.
We also add the chance to work with the wonderful planners and designers of Em and E, who put a very stunning event together. We clicked so much with them in fact, we asked them to say a little something for the blog! More on that later though.
The Day Of
It was snowing when I arrived at the Ace Hotel. Perfect weather for a warm chai latte, which I grabbed before making my up to Caroline’s suite. And as I was waiting for the bride to arrive, I got a chance to chat with her photographer Steven Ray. We also took the time to get some shots of Carolines’s dress hanging in one of the windows Meanwhile, our second shooter Kristen was over in the groom’s suite to film him getting ready for the big day ahead. It had a very classical feel to it with a record player crooning in the corner and the groomsman dressed in burgundy.
Soon Caroline and her entourage had arrived and it was time to get to sprucing. I enjoyed seeing the bridesmaids’ dresses, which were all different styles but in the same color. Then, when Caroline was ready, it was off for another favorite moment of mine; the first look with Nick. They laughed and cried, but the best part was probably when Caroline confessed that when she read Nick’s letter, she got two words in before she had to stop and take a shot of Jameson.
With that done, it was time to hop on the bus — quite literally — to head to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. This was the place that Caroline’s parents, Bob and Roseanne, got married at nearly 37 years ago. Suffice to say this was an important and personal touch on top of an already spectacular event.
Afterward
The ceremony was beautiful, but the day was far from over. Before heading back to the hotel, it was time to take some photos. Thus, with coats drawn tight and enough courage to brave the chilly weather, we headed to a nearby park. The historical and gothic Mellon Park to be exact. And despite it being one of the coldest days of the year, we had a lot of fun with plenty of laughs to keep us going… maybe it even helped ward off the chill. We also got some great footage, so I’d say it was well worth it.
That doesn’t mean we weren’t all relieved to finally be back at the hotel. The extravagantly decorated Ballroom and gym might have also been part of why we were so happy to be back as well, which was executed by Em and E. And if you want to know more about their time working on this wedding, read on!
Em and E came in 3 months before the wedding and as they said: “Caroline had a vision of a winter wedding; including hanging installations — [which were] going to be snowflakes, but then changed into disco balls — [along with] gold and silver accents, and lots of pillows and fun accessories. We were able to come in and bring all of the small details to life for the big day.” The designers also mentioned that Caroline had pearl strings and pillows she and her mom had been collecting for months that they used in the space. And though they were small details, they had a huge impact on the space in their own unique ways. The pillows created a comfortable space for guests while the pearls added another dazzling element to the cocktail hour area.
That’s where the night started when we got back after our tromp through the outdoors, in the Ballroom with cocktails in hand. This is also when the speeches were given. Caroline’s father kicked things off with a warm welcome while Caroline’s sister Katherine ended things with a hilarious confession to prank she and their brother pulled on Caroline years ago.
Party Time
After the last few chuckles finally drifted off, it was time for the reception. And that meant we were headed to the Gym. I loved the decor, which we can all thank Em and E again for by the way. It was set up like a vintage prom night with disco balls hanging from the ceiling. Additionally, in Em and E’s words, they got to “style the gymnasium with Caroline’s beautiful gold organza runners, custom menus, and other decor like the cake, gift boxes, and the cookie table.” They also stated that “working with the team at Ace Hotel, along with all of the great vendors, created a seamless, classic and beautiful event for Caroline and Nick. It was such a pleasure to create their big day.” I couldn’t agree more.
The newlyweds were soon introduced and they had their first dance to Queen’s You’re My Best Friend. They laughed. They twirled. It was clear to everyone there how happy the two of them were in that moment. It was a happiness that spilled into the rest of the night as all the guests joined them on the dance floor to celebrate this momentous occasion.
